Making my car last

ShandyAndy_2

Anymore recommendations for the seal/bush oiling, never heard of this before, getting a quote to under seal and waxoyl/dinitrol at the weekend.

wymondham

a.turner wrote: »

What's the point in keeping them looking good if you never see them?

They are just black seats... what's to look at?

ShandyAndy_2

Update

Had a quote to under seal, £300, includes jet washing underneath, allowing to dry overnight, removing rust with a wire wheel etc, then using a rust killer followed by Schultz then a clear wax to cover it

Richard53

peter12345678910 wrote: »

Sorry will give you another tip

Tyres 103nm if you want your bearings to last.

peter12345678910 wrote: »

This is the correct torque settings for lug nuts for avensis. Nm is newton-metre. .

Can you explain how the torque setting on the wheel nuts (lug nuts in the USA) can affect the life of the wheel bearings?

Richard53

MovingForwards wrote: »

Don't thrash it.
Do regular services.
Do repairs when they occur and not wait months.
Wash it, especially in winter when the salt the roads.
Wash bird !!!! off, don't leave it.

I'd agree with all of this except the first point.

You will do no harm and a lot of good by taking the car out every so often and putting it through its paces. Rev the engine to its limit, use the brakes, push it a bit. As long as the engine is warm before you do this it will do no harm. The heat will drive condensation out of the engine oil and other parts such as the exhaust. Making the brakes and suspension work will stop them getting rusted up and sticky.

Cars are meant to be driven, not wrapped in cotton wool. A lot of second-hand cars have passed through my hands, and the ones that have caused me the most grief have been the low-mileage, granny-used-it-for-shopping things. A car that has done 100k miles at high speed will probably be good for another 100k. Use, but not abuse.

Maintain it, take care of it, treat it well - but use it fully. The car will repay you with years of uncomplaining service.

ShandyAndy_2

Richard53 wrote: »

I'd agree with all of this except the first point.

You will do no harm and a lot of good by taking the car out every so often and putting it through its paces. Rev the engine to its limit, use the brakes, push it a bit. As long as the engine is warm before you do this it will do no harm. The heat will drive condensation out of the engine oil and other parts such as the exhaust. Making the brakes and suspension work will stop them getting rusted up and sticky.

Cars are meant to be driven, not wrapped in cotton wool. A lot of second-hand cars have passed through my hands, and the ones that have caused me the most grief have been the low-mileage, granny-used-it-for-shopping things. A car that has done 100k miles at high speed will probably be good for another 100k. Use, but not abuse.

Maintain it, take care of it, treat it well - but use it fully. The car will repay you with years of uncomplaining service.

Sound advice, thanks Richard, planning on changing oil and filter every 6 months due to lots of short journeys, getting it under sealed every couple of years and washing and polishing regularly, doing a long trip of 200 miles next month so that should do it some good.

Richard53

ShandyAndy wrote: »

Sound advice, thanks Richard, planning on changing oil and filter every 6 months due to lots of short journeys, getting it under sealed every couple of years and washing and polishing regularly, doing a long trip of 200 miles next month so that should do it some good.

I'd say (and a lot on here agree) that regular oil and filter changes are about the best preventative maintenance you can do.

Ref underseal: I've never used him, but there is a guy called Chris Parkinson who trades as Before 'n' After, who offers a steam clean/wire brush/Waxoyl service, mainly for Land Rovers and classic cars. People whose opinion I respect speak very highly of him.

Good luck with the car.

gord115

Richard53 wrote: »

I'd agree with all of this except the first point.

You will do no harm and a lot of good by taking the car out every so often and putting it through its paces. Rev the engine to its limit, use the brakes, push it a bit. As long as the engine is warm before you do this it will do no harm. The heat will drive condensation out of the engine oil and other parts such as the exhaust. Making the brakes and suspension work will stop them getting rusted up and sticky.

Cars are meant to be driven, not wrapped in cotton wool. A lot of second-hand cars have passed through my hands, and the ones that have caused me the most grief have been the low-mileage, granny-used-it-for-shopping things. A car that has done 100k miles at high speed will probably be good for another 100k. Use, but not abuse.

Maintain it, take care of it, treat it well - but use it fully. The car will repay you with years of uncomplaining service.

I agree totally. My wife has a Swift Sport with variable valve timing and a 7000rpm redline.
She never revs it beyond 3000.

Once a week I use it go on my night shift and give it a good old "italian tune up" on the way home once it is warm.

The engine is as sweet as a nut.